Merab

Merab was the eldest daughter of King Saul (1 Samuel 14:49). She was initially promised to David as a wife, with the condition that he fight valiantly for Saul and the Lord (1 Samuel 18:17). However, when the time came for her to be given to David, she was instead given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife (1 Samuel 18:19). Merab had five sons with Adriel, and these sons were among the seven descendants of Saul who were handed over to the Gibeonites for execution, as a means of atonement for Saul's attempt to annihilate the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:8). This event occurred during David's reign, when a three-year famine prompted David to seek the Lord's guidance.